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A mum was forced to wait nearly six hours on the freezing pavement for an ambulance after falling in the street outside her home - and later died in hospital of a heart attack.

Donna Gilby, of Brynmair Road in Cwmaman, had left her flat just after 8am on Tuesday for a doctor's appointment when she slipped and fractured her foot.

And now the family of the 47-year-old, who has an 11-year-old daughter, want the world to see the photograph of her lying outside - face down and unable to move - as her friends and neighbours rallied round, covering her with blankets and duvets to keep her warm as the temperature dropped.

They also called 999 for Donna, who suffered from an irregular heart beat and had two mini-strokes, and alerted her family who live on nearby Glanaman Road, according to Wales Online.

Her father Gareth Gilby, a 74-year-old former factory worker, said: "We then called the ambulance service and told them Donna was slipping in and out of consciousness - that must have been somewhere between eight and 8.30am.

"The call handler told us they were dealing with 'a heavy influx of calls' and that they'd be with her 'as soon as possible'.

Donna's father Gareth Gilby (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

"When there was still no sign an hour later we called again - this time we were told they were 'doing their best' but that they 'didn't know when they would get to her'.

He adds that the ambulance finally arrived shortly before 2pm and rushed his daughter to Prince Charles hospital in Merthyr Tydfil.

But, in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Donna suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away.

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"We still can't really believe it," adds Gareth. "She was as good as gold and always put others before herself - she'd do anything for anyone.

"As a result she put her own problems second, like the fact that she'd struggled with her weight and ill-health for years."

Donna's nephew James Perkins, a 28-year-old construction worker, says he had just been celebrating his own 13-month-old son coming out of intensive care at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant when he got the devastating news.

Donna had to wait for hours on the floor in the cold (Image: Wales Online)

The spot where Donna slipped and fell, leaving her stranded (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

"My boy had been touch-and-go with bronchiolitis, so I'd been showing my mates in work photos of him looking well again when I took the call about my auntie.

"I just can't believe it - it's cruel. Her poor little girl. Every Christmas from now on is going to be a reminder of her losing her mum.

"Thankfully this is a strong family unit and she'll be well looked after, but I'm so sad for her."

In a statement from the Welsh Ambulance Service, chief executive Jason Killens said: “We were deeply saddened to hear about the death of Ms Gilby and would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to her family.

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A spokeswoman for Cwm Taf Health Board said: "We are unable to comment on the details of individual cases, however we would like to offer our condolences to the family. Should anyone have any concerns about any care and treatment provided, we would encourage them to get in touch with us.”